Drier rack and method of making



5. J. BARIL'ETAL 2,395,210

DRIER BACK AND METHOD OF MAKING uvmvroze; Jamaal J Bani BYZawn nre Kai/M10110 Patented Feb. 19, 1946 DRIER BACK AND METHQD OF MAKING Samuel J. Baril and Lawrence Hochheimer, New York, N. Y., assignors to The Hobar Co., New York, N. Y., a partnership composed of Samuel J. Baril and Lawrence Hochheimer Application November 20, 1943, Serial No. 511,040

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a drier rack particularly adapted for the segregated suspension of a plurality of small wet articles, such as articles of clothing, e. g. stockings, etc., to permit and promote their drying, and method of making the same.

A general object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and readily constructed drier rack the parts of which are so constructed as to permit ready collapse of the apparatus for compact folding to substantially fiat form, and which may be easily manipulated to provide a frame structure from which a plurality of arti cles may be suspended in a segregated manner while permitting eflicient suspension of the soburdened frame structure either in an approximately balanced manner from the central portion thereof to overhead fixtures or from one side thereof for effective lateral support from substantially vertical structure with assurance that the frame structure will be supported in a position avoiding such crowding and proximity of articles as would tend to retard drying; and an efficient method of making the same in a simple manner assuring long and effective service with substantial elimination of any tendency of parts to be pulled apart accidentally.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a drier rack which can be easily collapsed for compact packing in boxes, luggage or drawers of furniture and the like and readily set-up by simple manipulation of a substantially rigid suspension member or hook to a selected one of two positions, either near one side of the frame structure or in the vicinity of the center thereof, where the suspension member will be relatively rigidl held in a position to extend substantially normal to the frame structure for eifective segregated suspension of a plurality of wet articles from a variety of types of supports, such as overhead supports, e, g. shower curtain rods, light fixtures, lines, etc., and side supports, e. g. chair backs, door knobs, etc.

Another object of the inventioh is to provide such a drier rack characterized by a transversely extending support bar rotatably and slidably carrying a sleeve to which a substantially rigid suspension member is connected in a manner to assure that when means on the bar and sleeveare properly engaged the suspension member will extend from the rack in a predetermined relative position and remain securely in such position during use.-

A further object of the invention is the provision of a method of making such drier rack which is simple and efficient and which assures that the parts will remain securely anchored in their relative positions thereby minimizing returns of faulty structures,

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention with parts in collapsed positions, and with some parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but showing the apparatus set-up for'use with the suspension member in one position for overhead suspension;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig, 2 showing the suspension member in another position for side suspension; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged isometric view, with parts broken away, of the frame supporting structure of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Prior to the present invention many suggestions have been made relative to drier rack constructions for suspension of a plurality of small articles to permit and promote drying thereof. Many of these constructions, however, while providing some means for suspension of a plurality of small articles of clothing, drying towels, etc., have either been non-collapsible and featured by projecting members making compact packing thereof, such as for transportation in luggage, either difficult or undesirable; or, though of a construction to permit collapse for compact packing, have not provided for effective support of the plurality of articles in a segregated manner to avoid undue crowding or proximity thereof tending to retard their drying, These and other difficulties are efficiently overcome by the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, like numerals identify like parts throughout. The embodiment shown therein includes a relatively fiat frame structure 5, Which may comprise a rigid rod bent into rectangular form as shown in Fig. 1. Upon the frame rod, at both ends of the structure, are threaded a plurality of clothes fasteners or griping devices -6-6. Each of the gripping devices 6-6 may consist of an elongated body of wood or other suitable material having an enlarged hole I through one end thereof to receive the frame rod and longitudinally slotted from the other end, such as at 8, to provide a pair of legs 9, 9 each having an enlarged head l9. A clamping ring l makes possible ready and secure gribping between the heads l6, ll) of an article.

Transversely of the frame structure and substantially intermediate the ends thereof is mounted a bar, such as a round rod I 2, fixed to the frame at each end by any suitable means such s by a T-shaped fixture i3 preferably formed of cast metal. The transversely extending bar or rod I2 is provided in the vicinity of the central portion thereof with a pair of diametrically opposed projections or lugs l4, l4 and near one end thereof at one side of the frame structure 5 with another pair of diametrically opposed projections or lugs l5, IS.

A substantially rigid suspension member, such as a hook I8, is rotatably and slidably mounted on the bar or rod 12. This i preferably accomplished by connecting a shank portion ll thereof to an elongated sleeve I8 having its bore it slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the rod l2 so as to be readily rotatable and slidable thereon. The suspension member I6 is so connected to the sleeve l8 as to extend out away from one side thereof in a manner to avoid any undue change in the angular relationship between the axes of the shank portion I! and the sleeve l8. This. may be accomplished by rigidly fixing the shank portion I'l to thesleeve l8 so that the hook is positioned relative to the frame member as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to permit collapse to a relatively flat form. However, it is preferred that the suspension member :6 b swiveled to the sleeve l8 so that for some uses the Plane of theyhook 16 may be arranged substantially parallel to the side members of the frame structure 5. The swivel connection may omprise a head 29, formed in any suitable manner such as by peening, o the end of the shank ll seated in the enlarged inner end of a hole extending from the outside to the central bore IQ of the sleeve is with the shank rotatably received in the hole. An

enlarged hole 2| may be aligned therewith to permit ready mounting of the hook It by insertion rior to mounting the sleeve ill on the rod it. This structure, while Permitting axial rotation of the shank portion ll, assures that the angular relationshipbetween the axes of the shank portion I! and the sleeve I8v will not change materially.

The sleeve l3 and the bar or rod 12 are provided with interengaging means to limit longitudinalsliding movement of the sleeve on the rod between two positions and, further, to cause the suspension member 16 to extend substantially normal to the flat frame structure 5 when the sleeve is in either of those two positions. This means may comprise two or more longitudinally spaced apart lugs, such as the pairs of lugs is, M and I5, i5, and one or more notches 22-22 in each end of the sleeve 15. One pair of diametrically opposed notches 22, 22 in one end of sleeve :8 are adapted to receive the lugs l4, l4 when the suspension member 16 is positioned in the vicinity of the center of the fram structure 5, and another pair of notches 22, 22- are adapted to receive the lugs l5, l5 when the suspension member is positioned near one side of the frame structure.

In constructing an embodiment of the present invention similar to that shown in the drawin and assembling the parts thereof in a manner so as to avoid tendency for accidental displacement of parts and breakdown resulting in an undesirably high percentage of returns many difficulties were encountered until the novel method of the present invention was devised. Since the frame 5 was desirably formed of one elongated piece of metal rod bent into a particular shape, such as rectangular as shown, anchoring of the ends thereof and of the cross-piece I2 thereto presented problems, particularly due to the resiliency of the parts. It was unexpectedly found that these problems were eliminated in a Simple manner by adopting the following procedure.

Opposed ends 23, 23 of the frame rod 5 are provided with notches 24--24 and the opposite ends of cross-piece I2 are also provided with notches 5-25.- The fr me rod 5 s then bent nto t e d i ed hape and de ces 5 threaded the eon with a eq l number d sp ed at ach end of the frame s ruc re n unb n sus ension member I6 is threaded through the hole 2| in sleeve l8v to. projectfro n the far side of the latter with the head 20 seated in the swiveling position shown. The hook of member I6 is then formed and sleeve I8 threaded on cross-piece l2, The frame structure 5 and cross-piece 12 are the placed in a jig to hold them in their relative positions shown with the junctures at [3, l3 positioned in molds. Molten metal, such as lead is then poured into the molds to form the fittings l3, 13 with the metal flowing into notches 2424 and 25-25 securely to hold the parts together. The employment of notches instead of projections makes possible the use of effective anchoring fittings of minimum dimensions with a conservation of metal and obtainment of a desirably light construction while assuring such sturdiness as will tend to eliminate breakdown in use.

In operation, the sleeve l8 may he slid on rod 12 to a position where notches 22 22 are not engaged with any of the lugs l4, l4 and l5, l5 and then rotated on the rod so that the hook IE will lie substantially flat between the side members of frame structure 5 asshown in Fig. l. The swivel mount of hook It further assures this positioning to provide a substantially flat compact collapsed structure when the gripping devices 66 are swung into the positions shown in Fig, 1. The resulting substantially flat compact structure is readily adapted to packaging for commercial distribution and to packing in luggage and the like for transportation by the user.

To employ this apparatus the frame structure 5 is lifted permitting the gripping devices 6-B to swing down to depending positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and if the apparatus is to be suspended from an overhead fixture, such as a shower curtain rod diagrammatically indicated at 25 in Fig. 2 by dotted lines, the sleeve is rotated on rod l2 and slid therealong until lugs l4, l4 engage in a pair ofnotches 22, 22; In this position the sleeve, though being in the vicinity of the center of the frame structure, is positioned slightly to one side of the exact center so as to tendto cause the structure to tilt slightly downward on the side opposite to the interengagement of notches and lugs to assure secure engagement of the latter and to avoid accidental displacement. Withwetarticles, such as stockings suspended by gripping devices on opposite ends of the frame structure the latter remains approximately balanced and avoids such tilting as would tend to bring about drying-retarding crowding.

The swivel mounting of hook l6 permits the fram structure to be swung to any desired position relative to the supporting fixture.

If it is desired to support the apparatus on the back of a chair, diagrammatically indicated at 21 in Fig. 3 by dotted lines, the sleeve I8 is slid along the rod l2 until the other pair of notches engage with lugs I5, I5 so that again the frame structure will be supported substantially laterally to assure proper segregation of the supported articles. With the sleeve l8 in this position, near one side of the frame structure 5, the apparatus can easily be supported by a projection extending from the side of a vertical structure, such as a door knob, by swiveling the hook to lie along a plane substantially parallel to the side member of the frame structure.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and in the construction set forth, which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A drier rack comprising, in combination; a relatively flat frame structure having opposed spaced-apart side members; a plurality of article fastening means mounted on said frame structure; a transversely extending bar mounted substantially medially between and attached to said side members of said frame structure for supporting the latter; means rotatably and slidably engaged about said bar; a substantially rigid suspension member connected to said last-mentioned means and projecting laterally from a side thereof; and engageable means to prevent rotary motion of said slidable means to cause said suspension member to extend substantially normal to said frame structure when in either of two positions, namely, near one side of said frame structure and in the vicinity of the center thereof; said suspension member, slidable means and transversely extending bar constituting the sole suspending means for said rack.

2. A drier rack comprising, in combination; a relatively fiat frame structure having opposed spaced-apart side members; a plurality of article fastening means mounted on said frame structure; a transversely extending round rod mounted substantially medially between and fixed to said side members of said frame structure for supporting the latter; an elongated sleeve having a bore of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said rod rotatably and slidably receiving the latter; a substantially rigid suspension member having a shank portion swiveled to and projecting from one side of said sleeve substantially at right angles to the axis of said sleeve, said sleeve having at least one notch in each end thereof; and at least two axially spaced apart projections mounted on said rod, one near an end thereof and the other in the vicinity of the central portion thereof, said projections being alternately engageable in the notches when said sleeve is slid along said rod to cause said suspension member to extend substantially normal to said frame structur when said sleeve is in either of two positions, namely, near one side of said frame structure and in the vicinity of the center thereof; said suspension member, sleeve and transversely extending rod constituting the sole suspending means for said rack.

' SAMUEL J. BARIL.

LAWRENCE HOCHHEIMER. 

